San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-11-11


However, we took good long rest, which
some Of us-twO Of Us, ] hclieye-em-
plOyed in strOlling away across the grass,
while the others sat still and enjoyed the
peace and quietness OF IL all, after the tur-
mol of London; and then in the cool Of
the evening we dropped lcisurcly down
stream tOwaII EtOn once more.
We dined together at the old Christie
phcr and drank 10 the memory OF former
friends in the best chamber that that es-
adjustment could produce. Probably the
memory of Lord Staines' school friends
was cherished only by very small band
OF survivors, but the old man ran over
their names and their exploits, one by
one, relating the merry life that he had
led with them and the astounding breach
cs Of discipline of which they had been
guilty, until at length Mr.. Turner, tax
ing heart Of grace, ventUred 10 doubt
whether the doings described would have
been tolerated by any head master worthy
of his high and responsible post.
"My dear fellow" said Lord Staines,
with superb contempt, "what do you
know about it: Head master indeed!
But of course you don't understand Eton
traditions. You were educated at Har-
row, or some such place, weren't your"
But Mr.. Turner was flushed with wine,
and did not choose TO be sat upon. "Har-
rovians may be poor sort Of creatures in
your opinion, Lord Staines," he returned
"but at any rate we can generally show
an eleven good enough to beat yours at
cricket" Which was an extremely rude
thing to say, besides being very false.
don't know whether the harmony of
the evening might not have been seriously
interfered with by this unexpected on
slaught Of the lamb upon the lion, had
not Jim jumped up, saying that if we
were going to take look round Eton we
really ought not to lose any more time.
Obviously, a single vehicle could not con-
tain us all; so Jim and Lady Mildred
walked on ahead, while the rest of US
packed ourselves into a fly and were driven
as far as the entrance of the school yard.
Here Lord Staines insisted upon getting
out, and managed, with the help Of my
arm and his stick, to hobble for some dis
lance across the flag stones which have
been worn smooth hy the passing feet Of
so many generations Mr.. Turner and
Summing wandered away, it was getting
late and close upon lock up time, so that
we had the place to ourselves.
The old man, who was leaning upon my
dTIl, DduStu anu lOOhtOl dDOuJ HlIll u llIIle
wistfully.
II recOllect," he said, coming down
here one election Saturday. 1t was Just
before Bracknell left; and you and Leigh
were leaving at the same time, you know
walked back from Upper Club with
Bracknell, and | remember that we
stopped and talked for a moment just
about the very spot where we are stand
inc He told I'M ha ho1 honEa1 INV
horse, Jupiter TOnans, by Thunderer, for
the Leger, and warned him that he had
better hedge, because, as | dare say you
are aware, Thunderers never stay; and
sure enough, Jupiter TOnans finished
third. | thought at the time that he
would have stood little more preparation
but no matter. Well, you know, May
nard, suspect that what applies to horses
applies pretty much to ourselves. One
hears good deal about education and
training, and example, and this, that, and
the other; but when alps said and done,
it's breeding that has the last word. Like
father, like son. | have been reckless and
eXtravagant all my life; he has followed
in my footsteps, and the upShOt of it is
that we're both deuced nearly ruined
now"
l said | was very sorry to hear it.
Lord Staincs shook his head. "Brack-
nell ought to have married money. l al
ways told him So He chose to marry the
parsons daughter, and it caused a cool
ness between Us, as you will remember. |
could have overlooked his imprudence and
disobedienCe; but, you see, didn't think
he had behaved well in the matter-no; /
didn't think he had behaved well"
at doesn't much signify now," re-
marked.
"Not much now, perhaps; but it was
hard upon poor Leigh at the time, and he
felt it more than | should have expected
He was speaking TO me about it not long
since. He is a good fellow, that; / wish
he had little more money. / looked at
him and Mildred this afternoon, and |
thought to myself, Il wish he had u little
more money! Only fancy, you know"
81 suppose he hasn't nearly enough
money! | haZarded.
"Oh, Lord bless your soul, nor' an
swered Lord Staines. Nothing like it'll
nothing like it! No--she will have to
marry Bcauchamp; and, indeed, she might
do worse. Come, Maynard, Wen go on
and get into the carriage again; we
haven't much more than time to catch the
train
So we moved slowly away to Weston's
Yard, where the fly was waiting for us,
and where the other members Of our small
party were already assembled. Jim
climbed up on to the box and we were
driven away to the station, Summing fall
ing asleep before half the distance had
been accomplished, and none of us talking
much. 1t was natural that we should be
a little tired and disinclined for conversa-
ton on the return journey. | myself,
believe, had a nap in the corner of the sa-
loon carriage, and even if | had been
awake | could not have scrutinized the
cOuntenances of my fellow travellers in
that dim light; but when we alighted in
the full glare of PaGdington station,
could not help noticing how pale Jim was,
and that Lady Mildred's eyes were sus-
piciously red.
Lord Staines shook hands with me on
the platform. Good night, Maynard"
he said, good night, and thank you for
giving us all very happy day"
Poor old fellow! / think it was the last
happy day of his life. His life is over
now, and | suppose one cannot say that it
was a well spent one; yet, who knows the
truth about any mans life? Perhaps,
when all secrets are revealed, it may be
found that some of those whose statues
look down upon us in public places, and
whose names are recorded in history, have
less favorable account to show than this
old nobleman, who was worldly and a
spendthrift, who was of little use to the
community ut large, who took no active
part in politics, who eXcelled in nothing
except, 10 limited extent, in the breed
ing Of race horses; but who never, to my
knowledge, was guilty of an ungenerous
Or disLn,,n .r.n hln nctinr. and IrLn IL